Weight



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. J. WAINWMGHT. BILLIARD TIME REGISTER.

No. 524,124. Patented Aug. 7, 1894.

W/TNESSES:

(No Mom.) 2 sheets-shew, 2. Gr. J. WAINWRIGHT. BILLIARD TIME REGISTER.

No. 524,124. Patanted Aug, 7, 1894*.

W/TNESSES.

ATT

mus Patins co Pnor "Unirse Srnxrns PATENT Ormes.

GEORGE J. WAIN'WRIGHT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO qVALTER J. WAINWRIGHT, OF SAME PLACE.

BILLIARD TuvIE-ueelsi-Eu SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 524,124, dated August 7, 1894. Application iiled January 31, 1894. Serial No. 498,603. (No model.)

To all whom/ it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. WAIN- WRIGHT, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Billiard Time-Registers; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in registers and more particularly to improvements in time recorders for billiard games or tables.

It is customary in conducting billiard rooms to charge players a certain sum for such a period of time, as so much an hour for the use of a table, &c.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved mechanism exceedingly cheap, simple and durable in construction, and composed of a minimum number of parts, and which will accurately register the length of time intervening between the times of removing the balls and replacing them in their case.

A further object of the invention is to provide a billiard ball case provided with the twenty-four hour clock havingadj ustable indicating means and wherein suitable mechanism is provided operated by the balls in the case to stop and start the Aclock mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide certain improvements in details of constructions, and arrangements of parts whereby an improved and eifective register is provided for the purpose intended.

Referring to the accompanying drawingsz Figure 1,is a front elevation of the improved billiard ball case with its registering mechanism. Fig. 2, is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the case and the rear portion of the clock; the clock works not being shown. Fig. 3, is a horizontal sectional View through the case proper for the balls. Fig. 4, is a detail top plan view of the starting and stopping mechanism for the clock Works. Fig. 5, is a detail perspective view of balls. This case is secured to a suitable base b,

and is strongly constructed and provided with a transparent panel or front c, so that the number of balls in the case can be seen without opening the case. At the upper side of one end, this case is provided with the inlet opening CZ, of a size to receive one billiard ball at a time. This opening is so arranged that the billiard balls cannot be Withdrawn from the case therethrough. Beneath this opening the case can be provided with suitable cushioning devices or material e, to prevent noise or injury to the balls when they are dropped into the case. The opposite'end of the case has the inlet opening controlled by the hinged doorf.

The base b, or the case is provided with a suitable bag g, supported by the frame 7L, with its opening end beneath the said inlet opening from the case so that when thedoorf, is open the balls will roll from the case into said bag and will be caught thereby and injury thereto avoided. A tilting platform 2', is longitudinally arranged in the lower portion of said case to receive and support the balls. This platform is pivoted near one end at j, so as to swing vertically and the short end of the platform is located beneath the inlet opening CZ, in the case and is so weighted, or the platform is otherwise controlled, so that it will require three balls to depress the long end of the platform. This arrangement is provided so that the platform will return to its normal position even thou'gh one ball remains on the long end thereof and whereby the removal of three balls from the case will start the clock mechanism so that either three balls or four balls can be employed in the game.

It will be observed that the platform is normally inclined toward the doorf.-

A vertically disposed gravity latch 7o, is pivoted at its upper end to the upper portion IOO of the ease so that its lower hooked end can catch beneath the free end of the platform and hold the same in its normal position. This latch swings outwardly, and is located in the path of the balls so that when the balls roll down the platform, the tirst ball will engage said latch and force it outwardly to the door f, and thereby release the platform so that it can be depressed by the weight of the balls. Then the balls rollout of the case theylift the latch out of the way and when the platform is free lfrom the weight of the balls the latch automatically locks the platform. This lock is provided to prevent tampering with the platform or depress the same to stop the clock mechanism hereinafter described without the employment of the balls. An automatic lock is also provided for the door f, so that the said door can not be opened when the platform i, is in its normal position and when there is not a sufficient number of balls in the case to play a game. This lock is provided to prevent tampering or fraudulent adjustment of the parts to cheat the proprietor. This lock consists of the vertical swinging latch Z, pivoted between its ends to the floor of the case beneath the free end ofthe swinging platform. This latch has a hooked outer end arranged to enter the eye or staplem, on the inner side of the door f, and the inner free end of the latch, or of platform, is pro vided with the projection so that when the platform drops by reason of the balls thereon the inner end of said latch is depressed, thereby releasing the hooked end from the staple m, and releasing the door from said lock. Thus when the case is filled with balls the latch Z, is disengaged.

i', indicates a suitable clock mechanism mounted in any desired manner on the ball case or the ball case can be enlarged upwardly and centrally to receive the clock mechanism. This clock is provided with a twenty four hou r dial,that is a minute scale is provided from one to sixty; and a concentric hour scale is provided from one to twenty four, and an hour hands,makesacompleterevolution in twenty four hours.

t, is a minute hand.

The door u, is provided to close the clock face and this door can be provided with suitable lock and key U, so that the proprietor after setting the hands of the clock, can lock the door thereof, having the glass front, and remove the key and hence prevent tampering with the hands of the clock. This door has its edge so formed as to receive a pointer a', and permit the pointer to slide around the edge of the cover by having the base of the pointer curved to embrace the bead surrounding the glass front. This pointer constitutes the minute indicator and travels over the minute scale of the clock dial. This door is also provided with a movable hour indicator b', composed of the hand or fingoron the outer face of the glass frontjonrnaled in the center of the glass front so that the finger can be semen.

moved around the hour scale. The outer door q', with the glass frontis located over the said door n, and is suitably hinged and provided with a lock and key d.

The game attendant should be provided with a key to open this outer door so that he can set the indicator hands to indicate the time that the game commenced. This outer door is provided with the rigid curved arm p, extending inwardly through an aperture c', in the case front and located at the hinged side of the door. This arm 29, is loosely connected by the link o, arranged longitudinally in the upper portion of the case,to an inwardly extending rigid arm fn, from the door f. This arrangement is such that the outer door of the clock controls the outlet door j", of the ball case so that the attendant in order to get the balls from the ease must open the outer clock door which operation swings open the door f', providing the case contains sutlicient number of balls to release the latch l.

It should be observed that the doors j" and q', are so connected as to open and close te' gether.

As before described suitable mechanism is provided to stop the clock when the case contains sufficient number of balls for the game and to start 'the clock when these balls are removed from the case. This mechanism preferably consists of the horizontal shaft 2, journaled in the case to the rear of and eccentrically to the fly Wheel or escapemcnt 3, of the clock mechanism. This shaft is provided with a suitable support et, carrying a spring arrn 5, extending over the periphery of the fly wheel 3, so that when said shaft 2, is rotated to the right; the spring arm 5, will be drawn into contact with the periphery of the wheel 3, and will thereby stop the clock by holding and wedging against the ily wheel. When the shaft 2, is revolved in the opposite direction the arm 5,-will release the fly wheel and give it a sliding, twisting and starting movement. rThis is accomplished by the cccentric mounting of the shaft 2, in relation to the shaft and fly wheel.

Suitable connections are provided between the platform and said shaft 2, to operate the shaft to stop thevclock when the platform is lowered and release the clock when the platform raised. This mechanism preferably consists of the toothed segment (i, meshing with the pinion 7,011 the shaft 2, and connected by the link 8, with the free end of the platform. At the beginning of the day the proprietor sets the hands of the clock at zero that is l-t and and locks up the inner door. The case being full of balls the clock is of course out of gear and not running. Then it is desired to remove the balls for the gaine the attendant unlocks 'the outer door of the clock which operation opens door f, of the case and the balls drop ont into the bag y. lle then moves the minuto indicator d', to a point occupied by the minute hand of the clock at the time the balls are released and the hour indicator b,to the point occupied by the hour hand of the clock at that time. The outer door of the clock is then closed and locked, leaving a permanent record of the time that the game commenced, while the clock is started running at the time the balls were removed, so that the time is counted up against the players.

Vhen the game is finished, the players, of course, Wish to notify the attendant of the fact, but should the attendant be engaged at another table at that time the players can on their own account drop the balls into the case and the clock is then stopped.

The attendant when disengaged naturally looks on the table and sees that the balls are missing. He then looks in the case and sees, at a glance, the balls there and in safe keeping, and also has an accurate and wholly reliable record of the time charged against the players.

At the end of the day, or twenty-four hours, the proprietor has an accurate register of the time that the balls have been in use and the time for which he should receive rent. A check is thus provided against dishonest attendants as Well as dishonest players.

Many details of construction have been minutely described herein for the sake of clearness, but I do not Wish to limit myself to any such specific constructions.

It is evident that various changes might be made in the forms, arrangements and constructions of parts described Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth, but consider myself entitled to all such changes as fall Within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. A billiard ball case having a clock provided with hour and minute indicators, substantially as described, and provided with ball inlet and outlet openings, and means arranged in the path of the balls between said openings7 and operated by the balls and controlling the clock to stop the clock while there are sufficient balls in the case fora game and to start the clock when the balls are removed, substantially as described.

2. The case having the vertically movable platform arranged to support and be moved by the balls, substantially as described, in combination with a clock having indicating pointers, and controlling mechanism connected with and actuated by said platform and controlling the clock by locking the clock movement when the platform is depressed and start-ing the clock when the platform is released, substantially as described.

3. A billiard ball case having the swinging platform -to receive the balls, and an inlet opening for the balls, an outlet opening at one end of the case provided with a closing door, and a latch to automatically lock said door when the platform is in its normal elevated position and arranged to be released from the door by the descent of said'platform under the weight of the balls, substantially as described.

4. A billiard ball case having an inlet opening for the balls, a swinging platform in the casete receive the balls, an outlet opening from the case at one end of the'platform provided with a door, and a latch arranged to uphold said platform in its normal position when the balls have been removed from the case, said latch being arranged in the path of the balls so as to be automatically released by the balls, substantially as described.

5. The billiard ball receptacle having the discharge opening at one end controlled by a door, and the flexible bag supported with its open end at said opening to receive the balls as they drop therefrom, substantially as described.

6. The billiard case having the clock, a swinging platform permanently arrangedin the case to receive the balls, the case having an inlet to and egress passage from said platform and a shaft connected with and controlled by said platform and having an arm arranged to engage the escapement fly Wheel to lock the same or to move out of engagement and start the clock, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the case having the swinging platform, the clock mechanism, a pinion mounted in the case eccentrically to a moving Wheel of the clock and provided with a projection to move into and out of engagement with said wheel to lock or release the same, a toothed segment meshing with said pinion, and a connection therefrom to the platform, substantially as described.

8. The case having an outlet controlled by a door, a clock carried by the case, and adoor of the clock face connected to and moving with said outlet door, substantially as described.

9. The billiard ball case having the billiard ball lpassage therethrough provided with a pivoted balanced floor or platform forming a permanent part thereof and arranged to be depressed by the proper number of balls, and a time registering mechanism connected with and controlled by said floor, substantially as described.

10. A time register having a door to cover its dial face, an indicator finger movable by hand and arranged on the exterior of said door and having a holder embracing and slidable on the rim of the door, and another movable indicator finger on the exterior of the door and mounted thereon opposite the center of the dial, substantially as described.

11. A time registering mechanism, in combination with a case having a ball passage therethrough, a brake mechanism for said time register controlled by the balls in the passage, and a door closing the discharge end of the passage, substantially as described.

IOC

12. The billiard ball ease having a billiard In testimony that I claim the foregoing as ball passage therethrough provided with :i top my own I affix my signature in presence of two inlet opening so that the balls cannot be re- Witnesses.

moved therefrom, and with a door for its dis- GEO. I. VAINWRIGH'I. 5 charge opening provided with a look con- VitnesseS:

trolled by the balls in the passage, substan- ROBERT T. BROWN,

tially as described. I. MALLAET. 

